Home / Document templates / Pre-Incorporation Agreement
Pre-Incorporation Agreement
Free pre-incorporation agreement template for founders to formalize their arrangement before a company is legally formed.
- SSL-secured
- No signup required
- Free, always
This free pre-incorporation agreement covers 1. Intent to Incorporate, 2. Ownership Split, 3. Pre-Incorporation Contributions, 4. Vesting, 5. IP Assignment with 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields to fill in — built for founders, freelancers, and small business owners formalizing a business decision or agreement without paying a lawyer to draft it from scratch. Copy it into your own word processor, fill in the placeholders, and review it — or adapt it — before use. It's part of docstoc's free document template library, alongside business, legal, real estate, finance, and HR templates. Every template here is free to copy with no signup required, and each one carries a plain disclaimer: this is a starting point for informational purposes, not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Pre-Incorporation Agreement
Founders: [Name(s)] · Proposed Company Name: [Name] · Date: [Date]
1. Intent to Incorporate
The parties intend to form [Company Name] as a [Corporation/LLC] in [State], and agree to the terms below governing their relationship until incorporation is complete.
2. Ownership Split
Upon incorporation, ownership will be allocated as follows: [Founder 1]: [%], [Founder 2]: [%].
3. Pre-Incorporation Contributions
Each founder's contributions to date (cash, IP, time) are as follows: [List], to be credited toward their equity stake upon incorporation.
4. Vesting
Founder equity will be subject to a vesting schedule of [Standard: 4 years with a 1-year cliff], to be formalized in restricted stock purchase agreements upon incorporation.
5. IP Assignment
Each founder agrees to assign all intellectual property related to the business, created before or after incorporation, to the Company upon its formation.
6. Confidentiality
Founders will keep business plans and proprietary information confidential.
7. What Happens If Incorporation Doesn't Happen
If the parties do not proceed to incorporate within [Timeframe], [state how contributions and IP are handled — returned, or another resolution].
Founder 1: ______________________ Date: ____________ Founder 2: ______________________ Date: ____________
*This document is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Getting founder vesting agreed in writing BEFORE incorporation — even informally, as in Section 4 — avoids a much harder conversation later if a co-founder leaves early having already been issued unvested equity.*
Edit directly in the box above. Download PDF anytime — the docstoc.io footer is always included and cannot be removed.
What's included
- Edit online — click the document, fill in placeholders, download a PDF
- 7 standard sections: 1. Intent to Incorporate, 2. Ownership Split, 3. Pre-Incorporation Contributions, 4. Vesting, 5. IP Assignment, 6. Confidentiality, …
- 11 clearly marked [placeholder] fields for quick personalizing
- Free to use — no account or signup required
- Fully editable — adjust any clause to match your actual situation
- Includes a signature block, ready to print or sign digitally
- Fixed docstoc.io footer on every PDF (not removable)
Who this template is for
Freelancers & solo founders
Handling routine business paperwork without commissioning custom legal drafting for every document.
Small businesses
Standardizing recurring documents — leases, agreements, notices — across a growing operation.
Anyone reviewing before signing
Using a clear starting structure to understand what a document should cover, even if a lawyer finalizes it.
Early-stage businesses
Getting the basics documented before things get more complex.
FAQ
Is this pre-incorporation agreement template really free?
Yes — this Pre-Incorporation Agreement template on docstoc is free to view, edit online, and download as a PDF with no account or signup required.
What does this pre-incorporation agreement cover?
This business template includes 1. Intent to Incorporate, 2. Ownership Split, 3. Pre-Incorporation Contributions, 4. Vesting. Fill in the [bracketed] placeholders, edit any clause online, then download a PDF — the docstoc.io footer stays on every export.
Is this legal advice?
No. Templates like this cover the common ground most businesses need, but they can't anticipate your specific deal terms, jurisdiction, or industry rules. Treat it as a first draft to build from, and get a business attorney's eyes on it before signing anything that matters.
Can I edit the wording?
Yes. All 11 placeholder fields and every clause are editable right on the page — change what doesn't fit, then download an updated PDF anytime.
Where can I find more free templates like this?
Browse more free business and related document templates in the docstoc library at /document-templates/.
More free document templates
- Single-Member LLC Operating Agreement
- One-Page Business Plan
- Press Release
- Letter of Intent
- Executive Summary
Five products, one platform
Why use this instead of a generic template
Security
Served over SSL from Cloudflare's edge network — no ad trackers, no third-party scripts on template pages.
Legality
Templates are drafted for general use, not a substitute for legal advice — check the note on each page for specifics.
Privacy
No account or signup needed to copy a template — nothing you type here is stored unless you choose to sign up.
Speed
Copy the subject and body directly — no form to fill in, no export step, no waiting on a download link.
Mobile-friendly
Every template page works the same on a phone as a desktop — copy on the go, no app required.
API available
Building your own tool? docstoc's API covers invoices, reminders, and templates directly.